Apparatus for walking on the water.



L. RISSO.

APPARATUS FOR WALKING ON THE WATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I. 19l6- h s nnucnuznunuucunua lhmninr Y y a!ionrrnn earns LUIGI RISSU, F GENOA, ITALY.

APPARATUS FOR, WALKIN ON THE WATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2?, 1917.

\ Application filed March 1, 1916. Serial No. 81,354.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Luror Rlsso, a subject of the King of Italy,residingat Via Lazzaro Gagliardo 3, Genoa, Italy, have invented certainnew v and useful Improvements in Apparatus for l/Valking on the ater, ofwhich the following is a specification.

lhe present invention refers to a'portable non-submergible apparatus forwalking on the water essentially consisting of two floats of prismaticshape arranged parallel to each other, in combination with a propellerwhich can be put in motion by the action of the feet of the person. Thefloats are formed by an impermeable cloth sustained by an inside frame.i

The apparatus differs from the known types by the special constructionof the rains sustaining the cloth covering, by which construction theapparatus may be reduced to a very small volume fortransportation. i

The invention is illustrated in the drawings. Figure 1 is a partiallongitudinal sectional view through one of the floats; J

Fig.2 a plan view ofthe whole apparatus; l

Fig.8 a vertical cross-section of the apparatus with propeller;

Fig. 4 a vertical longitudinal section through an end of the float withthe means by which the float can be enlarged and reduced in size; i

V Fig. 5 a cross-sectional view of thefloat in reduced condition Fig. 6shows a modified form of the pro peller; i

Fig. 7 is a detail of the connection of the center rod with the rods atthe periphery of the float.

The structure or framework supporting the cloth covering of the floatconsists of a center rod 1 and rods 2 of wood arranged at the peripheryof the float and. parallel to the center rod and converging toward thecenter rod at the two ends of the float, where they are joined by eyeswith thehinges or ringed of the cones 3. On the outside of the rods 2 isfastened the impermeable cloth covering 5. The center rod 1 is connectedwith the rods 2 by means of four or more se ries of spokes 6 whichconnect with said rods by joints or eyes on either end, as in Figs.

1 and 7. By moving the center rod in a longitudinal direction the framewill be en'- larged or contracted and this according as the spokes mayassume vertical or parallel positions. with respect to the center rod.Une of the end cones 3 is provided with a pin 7 which penetrates intothe adjacent end of the center rod for siuoporting and guiding the sameduring its movement.

The other end cone rotatably carries a screw 8 which is threaded intothe adjacent end of the center rod. By turning the screw the center rodwill be drawn forward or pushed back and in this manner the prismaticbody of the float will be contracted or distended.

The displacement of water by each float must be such that one float willbe sufficient to support the weight of the person and further that inemploying two floats these will bc'submerged in the water for about thehalf of their height. In the upper part of the float there is providedan opening for the introduction of the foot. Chis opening has anappendix or pocket 9 of impermeable cloth suitably secured to theexterior of the float and extending inwardly to the center rod. Thisappendix or pocket is watertight and carries a wooden board 10 whichrests on the center rod and serves as a support for the foot of theperson. When contracting the apparatus this board will be drawnoutwardly from the float and the leather strip 11 fastened onitfor thereception of the foot will now ,serve toconnect the two floats togetherand to facilitate their transportation. It is understood that thesupport for the foot couldjust as well be arranged on the top of thefloat. Therudder or propeller consists of a simple rudder wheel with twoblades 12 connected together by two longitudinal rods 13 to form arectangular frame.

1f four blades are employed instead of two,

a second frame will be connected to the first one at right anglesthereto. Into the rudder frame 13 penetrate at two symmetrical pointstwo shafts 14 which rigidly connect on the upper part and behind theperson on the floats. The connection of these shafts with the floats iseffected by bolts and winged nuts as in Figs. 1 and 3. whereby therudder may be very easily removed by hand.

By pressing with the feet first on the one and then on the other floatthe rudder will be put in rotation and a speed obtained which isproportional to the rotation of the rudder. In order to obtain a greaternumber of rotations the modified rudder device as shown in Fig. 6, maybe used. In this figure the two shafts 15 fastened upon the floats arecombined with a double crank shaft21 on which are rotatably arranged thetwo toothed wheels 16 which form one piece with the rudder wheel 13. Thecranks of shaft 21 rotatably engage the shafts 15. Opposite the wheels16 other wheels 17 of a larger diameter are keyed on the shafts 15.These toothed wheels could be substituted by pulleys. The two wheels onthe same side of the rudder are connected by a chain 18. In conformitywith the ratio of the diameters of a pair of wheels will be the ratiobetween the number of footsteps or pedal steps and the rotations of therudder. If the wheels of one pair are of the same diameter as thecorresponding wheels of the other pair the effect ofthe transmissionwill be the same. By removing the chain or belt 18 and connecting theshafts 15 to the rod 13 of the rudder, for instance by means of thebolts 19 having conical ends adapted when the bolts are screwed intotherod '13 to engage conical depressions in the ends of the are moved,by the direct action of such wheels.

In the rudder device shown in Fig. '3 the shafts 14 are rigidlyconnected with the floatsand rotatably connected with the rudder, Thereis nothing to prevent connecting theseshafts rigidly with the rudder andsupporting them rotatably on the floats. Thehexagonal shape of the floatmay also be substituted by any kind of polygonal shape. The mentionedmaterials as wood, metal and impermeable: cloth may be re placed byother materials as practical experience may indicate to be mostsuitable. 20 is a connecting rod hinged to the floats and serving tokeepthe floats in a parallel position during working.

The present apparatus does not have any steering rudder as after a shortpractical e perience a person will be able by simply dlstortlng the bodyto guide the apparatus and to regulate the amount of submersion.

In order to make the apparatus more accessible for beginners a,handrudder be employed and will certainly be useful in certaincircumstances.

I claim 1. A portable and nonsubmergible appa' ratus for walking onthewater, comprismg two floats, each consisting of a covering ofimpermeable cloth supported by a framework of prismatic shape withpointed ends, said framework comprising a center rod connected by hingedspokes to longitudinal par allel rods, cones at the ends of said floats,and a hinged connection between said parallel rods and said cones.

v2. A portable and nonsubmergible appa-- ratus for walking on thewater,comprising two floats, each consisting ofa covering of impermeable clothsupported bya framework of prismatic shape with pointed ends,

said framework comprising a center rod coni nected by hinged spokes tolongitudinal parallel rods, cones at the ends of said floats, a hingedconnection between said parallel rods and said cones, a supporting andguid ing pin carried by one of said end cones and penetrating into theadjacent end of the center rod, and a screw rotatably carried by theother end cone and threaded into' the adjacent end of the center rod. r

3. A portable and nonsubmergible appa A. A portable and nonsubmergibleapparatus for walking on the water, comprising a pair of floats, a shaftrigidly fastened on each float and combined with a double crank shaft,the cranks of which are rotatably supported on the ends ofthese shaftsand the crank shaft traversing and rotatably. ar-

ranged in a rudder wheel, two toothed wheels rotatably arrangedon thecrank shaft. and forming one piece with the rudder wheel, twoothertoothed wheels keyed on the ends of the float shafts and screwsprovided on the rudder wheel for securing the float shafts thereto. f

5. A portable and nonsubmergible apparatus for walking onthe water,comprising a pair of floats, ashaft rigidly fastened on each float andcombined with a double crank shaft, the cranks of which are rotatablysupported on the ends of these shafts, and In testimony whereof I havesigned my the crank shaft traversing and rotatably arname to thisspecification in the presence of ranged in a rudder Wheel, two toothedtWo subscribing Witnesses.

Wheels rotatably arranged on the crank shaft LUIGI RISSO. and formingone piece With the rudder Witnesses:

Wheel, and tWo other toothed Wheels keyed ADOLFO WEBER,

on the ends of the float shafts. MOZGARELEA DOMNEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patento. Washington, D. 0.

